Italy: Parmigiano reggiano cheese sets new production record globally

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 ended up being a record year for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, which saw production rise 4.9% year-on-year. The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium produced 3.94 million cheese wheels, or about 160,000 tonnes, generating a consumer turnover of €2.35 billion. Italy, which accounts for 56% of the market, recorded a 7.9% increase in sales volume. Large scale retail is still the main distribution channel (61%) for Parmigiano Reggiano, followed by regular trade (13%), direct sales (12%), and industry (4%). Export Growth Exports account for around 44% of sales, registering 10.7% growth in 2020. The USA is still the leading export market for the cheese, accounting for 20% of total exports, followed by France (19%), Germany (18%), the UK (13%) and Canada (5%). In Europe, the highest annual growth was seen in the UK (+21.8%), Germany (+14.8%) and France (+4.2%). In North America, the USA (+1.9%) and Canada (+36.8%) also registered a positive performance, while ...